Race Through History


"I am Not Your Negro" is a documentary on the history of racism in the United States, which is based on James Baldwins 30 pages of notes. He was writing a memoir of three of his close friends lives. They were civil rights leaders known as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers. This documentary is narrated by Samuel Jackson and HERE he speaks to his experience on Jimmy Kimmel Live talk show in January, 2017.
James Baldwin was writing in Paris when he realized he never missed anything American, yet missed his family terribly. It wasn't until then he realized he needed to go home and pay his dues. His friends were being assassinated for a cause that he believed in, but was removed from.  

While watching this documentary, I realized how this is still so much a part of our lives today. The United States calls itself the land of the free, yet there is still so much oppression, racism, and prejudice in our world. This film parallels our current movement known as "Black Lives Matter." I recall James Baldwin in an interview on the Dick Cavett Show. He has to debate "the idea of every notion being about color, when there are other ways man can connect", with a Professor Paul Weiss (Prof. of Philosophy) at Yale. James Baldwin has a response that could also hold true today. He states, "I  don't know whether the Labor Unions and their bosses really hate me. That doesn't matter, but I know I'm not in their unions. I don't know if the Real Estate Lobby has anything against Black people, but I know the Real Estate Lobby is keeping me in the Ghetto. I don't know of the Board of Education hates Black people, but I know the textbooks they give my children to read, and the schools that we have to go to. Now this is evidence." Are these not the same battles Black people face in present day America. This reminds me of Jean Anyon's article "What Counts as Educational Policy?" where economic policies need to count as educational policies too! "We can't continue to fix the inside without addressing the outside conditions too." This refers to school conditions, textbook, supplies as well as the surrounding area conditions. Yet another problem/issue we continue to face today. Is this not all cyclical? They say we are making progress yet the same issues still exist. 

I can make a connection to Bettina Love's "We Want To Do More Than Survive" reading which questions all three points above made by James Baldwin, the same three points relevant in today's battle for the Black people of America.

As long as people continue to hold beliefs and prejudices against others, I fear we will continue in this cycle of racism! James Baldwin states, "The American way of life has failed to make people happier, make people better. We do not admit this." As we look around America today...we can say "this is not the land of the free...only the home of the brave." These quotes connect not only to life then, but also to lives NOW! 

My favorite quote came at the very end of the documentary, and is actually on my image at the beginning of this Blog…”Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced!” These words carry a lot of weight and need to be spoken to those with the power to change...if there even is such a figure!

 


 

Comments

  1. Shannon BNovember 19, 2020 at 8:52 AM

    Sue-
    I too found Baldwin's response on the Dick Cavett show to be extremely telling of not only the state of our nation but also, how so many other individuals must feel based on our policies and practices here in the United States. Baldwin stated, " [I know my worth] based on the state of your institutions." If our institutions uphold racist theories, history, practices, and policies, (like Rose suggested in her lecture) how can any individual who is not white feel welcome or free here?

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    1. Sue Connole's Digital Literacy JourneyNovember 22, 2020 at 9:50 AM

      Shannon,
      It's absolutely insane that the struggles of Black people in the 60's are still the same struggles being faced today. The documentary totally parallels life and struggles in our present day life. Will we ever change these policies and practices to level the playing field....become the "land of the free...AND the home of the brave" like we claim to be.

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  2. AndrianaNovember 19, 2020 at 12:51 PM

    Hello Sue. Thank you for sharing the video of the Samuel L Jackson interview with Jimmy Kimmel. I watched it and it is a great follow up! It is interesting to see how Samuel L Jackson interprets the film. He made a valid point about how the film showcasing what has not changed within our country for the past 50 years. Racism/discrimination! I agree with your point about America being the land of the "free" but yet many are oppressed and racism occurs all too often. I like your comparison to the current movement of Black Lives Matter. How is it that we still have a problem? Why hasn't our country recognized the oppression of African Americans? I agree with your fear of the cycle of racism that will continue. We need to instill hope to change this! The past has shown us racism has continued throughout generations. What can we do as educators to change this within our classroom and the community? Finally, I relate to the quote you picked from the documentary! We need to face racism. We cannot hide from it. Many individuals live in denial about what is occurring and want to ignore the problem. We have the power to speak up and make a change.

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    1. Sue Connole's Digital Literacy JourneyNovember 22, 2020 at 10:14 AM

      Hi Andriana,
      I'm glad you enjoyed the film and agreed with the points I made. The way the documentary parallels our present day situation with the Black LIves Matter Movement is uncanny. Clearly, Americans that are White like to turn a blind eye because it is easier to ignore than to stand up to racism. As educators today, we can help students get a voice and teach them to stand up for themselves to make a difference ..... maybe even a change!

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  3. Carly OguschewitzNovember 21, 2020 at 12:03 PM

    Hi Sue!

    I, also, noticed the parallels between this film and what is happening in our country currently. It is shocking and disturbing. The dismissive behaviors we see from white people when it comes to the racism and prejudice that Black people still fact has never gone away, and almost emphasized within the last few years. This documentary was very eye-opening.

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    1. Sue Connole's Digital Literacy JourneyNovember 22, 2020 at 10:25 AM

      Hey Carly,
      It is absolutely disturbing/shocking that Black people are still dealing with these same issues as they did in the 60's. We pretend to think we have made changes and really just turn a blind eye to the racism and prejudice that still exists today. The documentary really shows the parallel to life and struggles today are pretty much still the same as they were 60ish years ago. It's actually sad to say that "We live in the land of the free, and the home of the brave" when all Americans are neither FREE nor BRAVE!

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